Mounting structural members



y ,1965 s. R. KAUFMAN ETAL 3,182,351

MOUNTING STRUCTURAL MEMBERS Filed March 20, 1963 INVENTORSSTANLEYRKAUFMAN DAVID M. KAUFMAN mil A ATTORNEY United States Patent3,182,351 MOUNTING STRUQTURAL MEMBERS Stanley R. Kaufman, Stokes Road,Yonkers, N.Y., and David M. Kaufman, 701 Palmer Court, Mamaroneck,

Filed Mar. 20, 1963, Ser. No. 266,588 6 Claims. (Cl. 16-130) Thisinvention relates to the art of mounting structural members, moreparticularly to means implementing the hinged support of a folding gateor the like closure over a framed opening in a fashion permitting readyfolding of the gate and its swinging to a position lying against theframe of the opening.

The securement of a structural member to a support present problems ofadjustment and fastening so as to obtain desired orientation of thestructural member. Thus in hanging a door or window in a framed opening,considerable skill is involved in orienting and securing the door orwindow in proper operative position.

By way of specific example, a variety of foldable closures have beenevolved for use over building openings such as doors or windowspermitting the closure to be extended over the opening when desired, oralternatively to be collapsed and stored against the side wall or frameof the opening. In order to implement storage of the closure against theside wall of the opening, the closures are generally mounted on a hingesecured to the side wall of the opening, and to the edge of the closureso that when the closure is collapsed it may be pivoted on the hinge tolie flush against the side wall of the opening. Such closures aregenerally prefabricated of a variety of conventional sizes andthereafter installed in the particular door or window where their use isdesired. The installation presents some problems in securement of thehinge to the foldable closure, and securement of the hinge to the sidewall of the opening, since there are slight variations in the contour ofthe side walls of different so-called standard openings, necessitatingadjustment during installation.

It is with the above problems and desiderata in mind that the presentnovel mounting means, including both method and apparatus, have beenevolved, mounting means implementing the securement of a structuralmember such as a collapsible closure, or the like in operative positionin the frame of a building opening, requiring minimal skill on the partof the installer and providing for ready adjustment of the structuralmember to eifect its desired operative orientation.

It is accordingly among the primary objects of this invention to provideimproved mounting means for a structural member such as a door, window,collapsible gate, or the like.

Another object of the invention is to provide mounting means forstructural members necessitating minimal skill on the part of aninstaller of the structural member in the opening of a building or thelike.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hingemounting for a collapsible closure permitting the closure when incollapsed position to be pivoted to lie against the side wall of theopening in which the closure is mounted.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved hingesubject to ready attachment with respect to a structural member, withthe hinge adapted for ready adjustment with respect to the structuralmember either during installation, or for operative maintenance.

These and other objects of the invention which will become hereafterapparent are achieved by way of example by forming the structural memberwith an end bar preferably in the form of two spaced U-shaped channelmembers, having their legs facing towards each other. The U-shapedchannel members are conjoined by means of spacer bars serving tomaintain the channel members in an operative fixed relationship toprovide a slideway. These spacer bars additionally function as anchoringpivot points for the fixed pivot links of a collapsible grid foldinggate where the invention is employed in conjunction with a collapsiblegrid-type of closure. A butt hinge is provided with a supported plateadapted for securement to a fixed datum such as the frame of a door; anda channel attachment plate adapted to lie against the flanges formed bythe legs on said channel members. The frame supported plate is securedto the channel plate by means of a hinge pin extending through sleevessecured to the hinge plates. The channel plate is provided withupstanding locating dogs, adapted to extend between the spaced legs ofthe channel members comprising the end bar. An acchoring platedimensioned to fit in the slideway between the spaced channel members isprovided to lie between the upstanding locating dogs of the hingedchannel plate. Spacer legs on the anchoring plate orient the anchoringplate against the legs of the channel members contiguous to the channelplate and limit the transverse movement of the anchoring plate in theslideway. Tapped apertures in the anchoring plate are aligned withapertures of the channel plate of the hinge so that the extension of afastening member such as a screw through the apertures of the channelplate into the tapped apertures of the fastening plate permits readysecurement of the butt hinge in desired position with respect to the endbar. The frame plate of the hinge may either be secured to the frameprior to arrangement with respect to the end bar formed on thestructural member or subsequent thereto as is required by any particularinstallation.

A feature of the invention resides in the fact that securement of thebutt hinge to the end bar of a closure is accomplished with a minimum ofmanipulation, since the fastening plate provides a self-aligning tappedaperture for receipt of a screw extending from the channel plate of thebutt hinge so that there is no need to provide any back-up as isrequired Where machine screws are employed for securement of the hingeto the channel.

Another feature of the invention is that the hinge may readily beadjusted with respect to the end bar of the closure gate merely byloosening the fastening screws and sliding the end bar with respect tothe hinge.

The specific details of a preferred embodiment of the invention, andtheir mode of functioning will be made most manifest and particularlypointed out in clear, conelse and exact terms in conjunction with theaccompanying drawings showing by way of example the invention asemployed in mounting a folding gate closure wherein:

FIG. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the closure end bar, thebutt hinge, and the fastening plate embodying the instant inventiveconcept; and

FIG. 2 is a partial elevational view showing a collapsible grid foldinggate in operative orientation as mounted in accordance with thisinvention; and

FIG. 3 is an elevational View of the folding gate of FIG. 2 shown incollapsed position hinged to lie against the side wall or frame of abuilding opening; and

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing thehinge plates in butt relationship; and

FIG. 5 is a partial cross-sectional view taken on line 55 of FIG. 3showing the hinge plates separated; and

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 6-6 of tFIG. 4 showingthe anchoring plate in operative posiion.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, like numerals in thevarious figures will be employed to designate like parts.

The invention has here been illustrated as embodied for use inconjunction with a folding gate, however it will be apparent to thoseskilledin the art that the same inventive concept may be employedwherever it is desired to mount a structural member in a fashion suchthat the supported member may be readily secured in desired. operativeorientation and adjusted during installation, and subsequentmaintenance.

As seen in the drawings, the supported member in this case a collapsiblegrid folding gate 10, as best seen in FIG. 2, has one end thereofprovided with an end bar 11 providing a slideway 12.

End bar 11, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5 comprises two spacedU-shaped channel members 13 and 14, the legs of which are oriented toface each other to form spaced flange overlying slideway 12. Spacer bars15 are formed with projections 16 on each end thereof. Projections 16are designed to extend through apertures 17 in the U-shaped channelmembers, and the free ends of projections 16 are peened over as at 19(see FIGS. 4 and 5) to secure the spacer bars in desired position. Asmany spacer bars 15 are employed as are necessary to maintain thechannel members comprising the end bar 11 in a parallel relationship.Where a collapsible grid as viewed in FlG. 2 is employed to form thefolding gate, the spacer bars 15 may be utilized as an end pivot pointtor the links L of the gate.

A novel butt hinge 20 is formed, as best seen in FIG. 1 with a framesupported plate 21. The term frame supported plate is employed todesignate that plate of the hinge intended for securement to the frameof the closure in which the closure 19 here described is mounted. Itwill however be understood, that this terminology is not intended tolimit the use of the'hinge in the frame of an opening but that the hingemay have wide applicability in a variety'of other installations where amember is to be hingedly supported. Frame supported plate 21 1 is formedwith a plurality of spaced apertures 22 through which the necessaryfastening members such as screws,

rivets, or the like may be extended to secure the frame extend betweenthe opposed legs of the channel members 13 and 14. Channel plateapertures 32 are formed in channel plate 27 to accommodate a fasteningmember, preferably in the form of a threaded machine screw as will bemade hereinafter more apparent.

An anchoring plate 35, dimensioned to fit between channel members 13 and14, and between locating dogs 29 is provided as seen to the right inFIG. 1. The width of anchoring plate 35 is substantially equal to thelength of spacer bars 15, and the length of anchoring plate 35 issubstantially equal to the length of channel plate 27 between dogs 29.Spacer legs 36 are upset from anchoring plate 35,.the length of legs 36being substantially equal to the distance between the legs of thechannel members 13, as best seen in FIGS. 4 and 5. Anchoring plateapertures 49, preferably tapped are formed in the body portion of plate35, and threaded machine screws 41 adapted for engagementin tappedapertures 4d are also provided.

It is preferred to provide three channel plate apertures 32,,arrangedout of line with each other, so that'no line of bending will exist inaccordance with'desirable hinge design practices. In order to implementthe mating of an anchoring plate 35 with achannel plate 27 the anchor- 7ing plate 35 isprovided with two central threaded aper-= tures 40, sothat the anchoring plate may be turned through 180 degrees and stillhave an aperture 40 matched up with channel plate aperture 32.

' Operation port for anyone of alarge variety of structural members. Asdescribed in conjunction with theillustrated embodiment of theinvention, the novel hinge support is shown as used in conjunctionwith'a collapsible grid folding gate lthas best seen in FIG. 2.

7 Where so used, the gate 19 is formed withchannel shaped end bar 11.End bar 11 isthen conjoined with the novel hinge 29, by insertinganchoring plate 35 between the. channel members 13 and 14, with thespacer legs 36 extending in a direction away from the side of the endbar 11 to.which the hinge 20 is to be secured, as best seen in FIGS. 2,4 and 5.

Thereafter the channel engaging supporting plate 27.

of binge 2t isarranged adjacent the end bar 11 with 10- cating dogs 29extending between the flanges formed by the legs of channels 13 and 14,into engagement with fastening plate 35. Screws 41 are then insertedthrough channel plate apertures 32 into engagement with tapped anchoringplate apertures 40. Beforetightening the screws41, either the hinge, orthe end bar 11 are adjusted,

toa desired position. The frame-plate 21 may either have been secured inposition prior'to assembly of the channel plate with respect to theanchoring plate,. or subsequent thereto, depending on installationconditions.

After the plates Zland 27 of the hinge are secured in position, thesupported member, in this case gate 1% may be employed as desired. 7 v 7When the .supportedmember 10 is folded to expose the opening which ithas previously closed, it maybe hinged out of the way to the positionillustrated in FIGS. 3 and 5,.

by swinging channel plate 27 out of butt relationship with respect toframe plate 21', so as to lie against the frame of the building opening.

It is thus seen that an improved hinge mounting has been provided-forhingedlysupporting a structural member. The. hinge may readily besecured to the supported member with a minimum of manipulative steps,and requiring minimal skill. The fastening screws are substantiallyself-seating, permitting the facile .securement of the hinge to thesupported structural member, and the ready adjustment of the supportedmember into desired operative orientation without the exercise of anygreat mechani- Y cal skill.

The above disclosure has been given by way of illustration andelucidation, and not byway of limitation, and it is desired to protectall embodiments of the herein disclosed inventive concept within thescope of the appended claims.

What is claimed is: 1. Mounting means for a structural member such as adoor, window,.collapsiblegate, or the like, said means comprising incombination: f

slideway'means formed as part of the structural mem-' ber; anchoringmeans slidably mounted in'said slideway means; spacer meanson saidanchoring means limiting the transverse movement of said anchoring meansin said slideway means; supporting means arranged adjacent saidanchoring means externally of said slideway meansflocating meansextended between said-anchoring means and said supporting means to limitthe relative. axial movement between said anchoring means and saidsupporting means; and e fastening means adjustably extended between saidsupporting means and said anchoring means, whereby upon tightening ofsaid fastening means therelative position of said'anchoring means,supporting means 'tural member in desiredoperative position. i 2.A'method of mounting a structural member such as a door, Window, acollapsible gate or the likeyin operative position, said'methodcomprising the steps of:

forming a slideway inthe structural member;

andslideway means may be fixed to orient the struc- I arranging ananchoring member in the slideway for sliding movement therealong;

limiting the transverse movement of said anchoring member in saidslideway;

arranging a supporting member adjacent the anchoring member externallyof the slideway; limiting the relative axial movement between thesupporting member and the anchoring member as the step of arranging thesupporting member adjacent to the anchoring member is being performed;

extending a fastening member between the supporting member and theanchoring member to loosely interengage same;

adjusting the structural member to provide a desired operativeorientation therefor;

and tightening the fastening member to securely engage the anchoringmember with respect to the plate and guideway to prevent relativemovement therebetween.

3. A hinge mounting for a supported member having a flanged slidewaycomprising in combination:

a supported plate adapted for securement to a supporting datum;

a supporting plate adapted for securement to the supported member;

a hinge pin hingedly coupling said supporting plate to said supportedplate;

an anchoring plate adapted for slideable positioning in said slidewayfor engagement with respect to said supporting plate;

locating dogs extending between said anchoring plate in said slidewayand said supporting plate externally of said slideway limiting relativeaxial movement therebetween; in a locus defined by said locating dogs;and adjustable fastening members extending between said supporting plateand said anchoring plate to secure same in position, said anchoringplate securely engaging the flanges of the slideway of the supportedmember when said fastening means are tightened.

4. A mounting for a structural member such as a door, window,collapsible gate or the like, said mounting comprising:

a channel member formed as part of the structural member providing aslideway;

said channel member having two spaced flanges;

an anchoring plate slideably positioned in the slideway formed by saidchannel member;

spacer legs on said anchoring plate constraining said plate to lieWithin said channel against the spaced flanges;

a channel engaging hinge plate dimensioned to lie against the flanges ofsaid channel member; locating dogs extending between said channelengaging hinge plate and said anchoring plate;

a second hinge plate hingedly secured to said channel engaging hingeplate;

and adjustable fastening members extending between said channel engaginghinge plate and said anchoring plate, whereby upon tightening of saidfastening members the relative position of the hinge plates and channelmember may be fixed.

5. A mounting as in claim 4 in which said channel engaging hinge plateis formed with three apertures arranged at the apieces of a triangle;and said anchoring plate is formed with three similarly arrangedapertures, the apertures of said anchoring plate being threaded; andsaid fastening members are threaded for engagement in the anchoringplate apertures.

6. A mounting as in claim 5 in which said anchoring plate is formed witha fourth threaded aperture arranged at the apex of a triangle formed byrotating the triangle defined by the previously recited anchoring plateapertures through 180 about a line between the most widely spaced of thethree attaching plate apertures.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 375,039 12/87Wright 16-130 711,759 10/02 Chmelitzek 248245 1,091,652 3/14 Hall -1602,446,005 7/48 Hartmann 248245 X 2,737,268 3/56 Smith 248245 X 2,767,95110/56 Cousino 248-245 2,836,269 5/58 Anderson 16132 X 2,923,027 2/60Bury 16132 X 3,063,087 11/62 Thomas 16128 FOREIGN PATENTS 63,066 10/ 12Switzerland.

DONLEY J. STOCKING, Primary Examiner.

1. MOUNTING MEANS FOR A STRUCTURAL MEMBER SUCH AS A DOOR, WINDOW,COLLAPSIBLE GATE, OR THE LIKE, SAID MEANS COMPRISING IN COMBINATION:SLIDEWAY MEANS FORMED AS PART OF THE STRUCTURAL MEMBER; ANCHORING MEANSSLIDABLY MOUNTED IN SAID SLIDEWAY MEANS; SPACER MEANS ON SAID ANCHORINGMEANS LIMITING THE TRANSVERSE MOVEMENT OF SAID ANCHORING MEANS IN SAIDSLIDEWAY MEANS; SUPPORTING MEANS ARRANGED ADJACENT SAID ANCHORING MEANSEXTERNALLY OF SAID SLIDEWAY MEANS; LOCATING MEANS EXTENDED BETWEEN SAIDANCHORING MEANS AND SAID SUPPORTING MEANS TO LIMIT THE RELATIVE AXIALMOVEMENT BETWEEN SAID ANCHORING MEANS AND SAID SUPPORTING MEANS; ANDFASTENING MEANS ADJUSTABLY EXTENDED BETWEEN SAID SUPPORTING MEANS ANDSAID ANCHORING MEANS, WHEREBY UPON TIGHTENING OF SAID FASTENING MEANSTHE RELATIVE